Nola Taylor Tillman
Nola Taylor Tillman is a contributing writer for Space.com. She loves all things space and astronomy-related, and enjoys the opportunity to learn more. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and Astrophysics from Agnes Scott college and served as an intern at Sky & Telescope magazine. In her free time, she homeschools her four children. Follow her on Twitter at @NolaTRedd
Latest articles by Nola Taylor Tillman
![The most detailed image of Arrokoth, captured just minutes before New Horizons made its closest approach on Jan. 1, 2019.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N5TBMmfrhM3woRFF8LEfx3-320-80.jpg)
One Year Ago, NASA's New Horizons Made the Most Distant Flyby in Space History
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
A year after New Horizons buzzed its second target, Arrokoth, a wealth of science has been revealed.
![NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew by the Kuiper Belt object Ultima Thule on Jan. 1, 2019 as shown in this artist's illustration. It's the furthest planetary flyby in history.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EzjxRfkM3Th6gAxMxepjff-320-80.jpg)
Asteroids, Comets, Black Holes — Oh My! The Year 2019 in Astronomy
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
A black hole was photographed, the farthest flyby was completed, and a beloved rover was proclaimed dead. Follow us through the highs and lows of 2019 space science.
![A still from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" showing a chunk of the shattered Death Star II, apparently on the moon Kef Bir.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QedNJy6pCP7nNxhWq3RFMN-320-80.jpeg)
Sorry, 'Star Wars' Fans. The Ewoks Are Probably All Still Dead from Death Star Fallout
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
If you've been holding out hope that some Ewoks survived the apocalypse at the end of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," you should probably squash it.
![2010 Perseid Meteor over Kauai, HI](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kkXLgnSJtct9wx5nzQfnuK-320-80.jpg)
Meteoroids Change Atmospheres of Earth, Mars, Venus
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
Researchers may be able to use this information to learn more about comets' paths around the sun.
![An artist’s image of a white dwarf passing in front of a red dwarf star. As the white dwarf passes in front of its larger companion, it bends and magnifies the light of the background star.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z25muShjunn6iAFENQykKF-320-80.jpg)
What Makes This Low-Mass White Dwarf So 'Impossible' to Behold?
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Scientists have spotted an incredibly weird, 'impossible' white dwarf star in a discovery that suggests these objects are even more common than suspected.
![Mercury as seen passing between Earth and the sun during a transit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NPbsWwx2QiM3Vkcdst95uV-320-80.jpg)
The Science of the 2019 Mercury Transit: How Astronomers Will Study the Rare Celestial Event
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
On Monday, students across the U.S. will use Mercury's transit to measure the distance between Earth and the sun.
![The timeline for the 2016 Mercury transit](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g94XBbQUxQWvrzHyVbqQnE-320-80.png)
The Mercury Transit of the Sun on Monday is a Science Smorgasbord
By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated
When Mercury crosses the sun on Monday, it will open up a wealth of scientific opportunity for telescopes on Earth and in space.
![An artist's image of a young, sunlike star surrounded by the gas and dust that will eventually form planets.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DK6u56A3TWeh8zS8b2bSSj-320-80.jpg)
'Dirty' Collisions Shed Light on Planet Formation
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Hit-and-run collisions and those that leave debris can affect a planet's orbit and growth.
![In "Star Trek: Discovery," Mary Chieffo stars as the Klingon L'Rell (left), Anson Mount is Captain Pike (center) and Shazad Latif plays Ash Tyler.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/in5KTJxdnpbeW9bhkBgGCX-320-80.jpg)
'Star Trek: Discovery' Cast Share Backstage Stories at DragonCon
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Cast members from "Star Trek: Discovery" shared backstage stories at Atlanta's DragonCon.
![An artist's depiction of a near-Earth asteroid.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sr44qLwZ7sUZMLvogDwbNa-320-80.jpg)
Tons of Water in Asteroids Could Fuel Satellites, Space Exploration
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
A special class of water-rich asteroids would make great targets for asteroid mining.
![An artist's depiction of an asteroid.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6DcHXkDxjTD9tWuHW6diDS-320-80.jpg)
Dangerous Asteroids May Be Lurking in Jupiter's Shadow
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Asteroids and comets hidden in Jupiter's shadow may be in "safe mode" now, but a small change could send them flying towards Earth.
![Many of the landforms on the asteroid Ryugu take their names from Japanese folklore.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3eEJvVtwPWzaYkifuiemd-320-80.jpg)
A Fairy-Tale Mission: The Folklore Behind Japan's Visit to the Asteroid Ryugu
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Once upon a time, a spacecraft made a dramatic quest to a distant land to bring back a treasure — and some science.
![jupiter moon io active volcano eruption](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vus6Fs7thdWfQybDDquEGf-320-80.jpg)
Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io May Not Have a Magma Ocean After All
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system, may not boast a magma ocean after all.
![NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor speaks with Sanjay Gupta during the International Space Station Research and Development Conference in Atlanta on July 30, 2019.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EwsToyEamfNXnoqP2SVhqJ-320-80.jpg)
Astronaut-Doctor Serena Auñón-Chancellor Explains How Medical Research on Space Station Helps Patients on Earth
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Astronaut and medical doctor Serena Auñón-Chancellor weighs in on how experiments on the ISS help medical research on Earth.
![An artist's impression of the Dream Chaser space plane in orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y4YsUzSMmCb3y5V4wCbekb-320-80.png)
Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser Space Plane Could Launch Astronauts One Day
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
The Dream Chaser space plane continues to eye future crewed trips to the International Space Station, despite the plane's cargo focus.
![NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference in Atlanta on July 31, 2019.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9SLFAskmLhs5SXQeH5JEaV-320-80.jpg)
NASA Chief Says Moon 2024 Plans Won't Rob Funds from Space Station
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
The U.S. has declared its intention to once again put boots on the moon. That sort of exploration comes with a giant price tag, leaving some to wonder where the money will come from.
![Artist's illustration of a moon lander capable of ferrying humans to the lunar surface.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cYWnNtewGfeE4jdFMEWswV-320-80.jpg)
Will Private Companies Beat NASA to the Moon?
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
NASA is working with private companies to send humans back to the moon. But what happens if those companies get there first?
![An artist's depiction of an exoplanet and a debris disk orbiting a white dwarf star.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QXuinUc2yoysXmb9Zaw3v8-320-80.jpg)
Gravitational Waves Could Guide Space 'Hitchhikers' to a Magrathea-Like World
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Gravitational waves could reveal planets around white dwarfs, even those beyond our galaxy.
![Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon in July 1969 in this photo snapped by Neil Armstrong.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CorBj4FSCunixkTsDZy5L-320-80.jpg)
Apollo 11 Was a Voyage of Discovery About Our Solar System — Here's What We Learned
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, he took one giant leap for planetary science.
![A moon rock brought back to Earth by Apollo 14.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8LodX9AGwmL7cAC4ZCAnaX-320-80.jpg)
We're Still Learning from the Apollo Moon Landings, But What If We Went Back?
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
Apollo's moon rocks changed science — but there's more to learn if we go back.
![Eris and its Moon Dysnomia](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dZqUSGT8ZrMagExRfcrKLJ-320-80.jpg)
Eris: The First Dwarf Planet
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
The discovery of Eris led to Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet.
![The sun's tenuous corona shines brightly during a total solar eclipse.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nq3M8QqRRVcNQ7XdAMckwj-320-80.jpg)
How Scientists Plan to Study the Total Solar Eclipse 2019
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
The elusive solar corona will be a key point of scientific studies during the July 2, 2019 total eclipse.
![An artist's interpretation of the strange cigar shape of 'Oumuamua.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DkRZJVNBrwdipnKR6AbsC6-320-80.jpg)
No Aliens Needed: Odd Properties of the 1st Known Interstellar Visitor Can Be Natural
By Nola Taylor Tillman published
'Oumuamua, the first known interstellar visitor, doesn't need an extraterrestrial solution to explain its oddities, according to a new study.